Together Toward Tomorrow.

This month, we are giving you a sneak peek into the CSMFO 2021 conference planning team and sharing with you my Top 5 surprising results from our July CSMFO Members’ survey.

Every year, the CSMFO President-Elect forms a “Host Committee” whose objective is to create an engaging conference experience that maximizes value and expands access for our members while also providing for professional connections and hopefully some good memories. As most conferences go virtual in 2020, we too are developing an option for a virtual CSMFO 2021 conference as an alternative to our Feb 17th-19th 2021 Conference in San Jose.

When we selected the 2021 conference theme of “Together Toward Tomorrow”, we had no idea of how well this would fit this moment in history. On behalf of CSMFO leadership and the Host Committee, I’m once again so passionately thankful to each of you who took time to share your opinion with us. This really is a time where we will only succeed if we work together now to create success for tomorrow.

The following are the top 5 results from the survey and how the Host Committee is already using this information to make data-informed recommendations for planning CSMFO’s 2021 conference.

#1. 80% said they would participate in a virtual conference in 2021.
This level of support for a virtual conference was an outstanding response and gives us clear guidance for our next actions.

ACTION: The Host Committee will continue to develop virtual alternatives for a 2021 conference. We restructured our committee to create new teams to research how best to fill in content for a virtual conference, who might be the best software partners to host a virtual conference, and how to build a new fiscal model that adjusts for likely lower revenue from members and commercial partners.

#2. Keep virtual conferences to half days or less in length.
Admittedly, with all the distractions we are facing and the rate at which things are changing, this did not surprise us. But it did provide confirmation of the work already underway in developing our conference schedule.

ACTION: Our Host and Program committees are working together to develop how much content we provide during a virtual conference period and how we might provide registered “attendees” access to virtual content after the virtual conference ends.

#3. Keep it simple and focus on technical training.
Of all the elements of a potential virtual conference, technical training rated number 1 as the most requested element with 91% interest. Having a specialized keynote speaker rated number 2 with 73% interest (as opposed to only 43% support for an inspirational-style keynote speaker). While our members clearly value connecting with each other in past live conferences, virtual member experiences rated very low (only 9% to 21% support).

ACTION: We are guided by the Program Committee’s responses to their annual “call for conference sessions” and their recommendations. We are also narrowing possible Keynote Speakers to those who can support members’ technical needs. And the Host Committee will work with other CSMFO resources to support ways our members can still connect professionally with their peers.

#4. Keep pre-conference virtual sessions shorter than normal.
72% said they favored pre-conference sessions that were 2 hours or less. When asked about a 3-hour session, support dropped to 16%.

ACTION: While typically we schedule 2 to 3 pre-conference sessions at 4 to 6 hours in length, our Host, Program, and Career Development committees are coordinating the best way to provide deeper dives in technical content while balancing attendees’ competing interests.

#5. Our members “hope” it will be possible to have a live conference in 2021.
Our members clearly value in-person experiences as 75% of those surveyed said IF we could hold an in-person live conference, they would “likely” attend.
But, as a sign of these times, most felt it was likely that something would keep them from attending an in-person live conference. They felt either their own safety concerns, employer limitations or travel restrictions would hold them back (these restrictions rated between 59% to 62% as likely).

ACTION: While we still are maintaining the structure and options developed for a live, in-person San Jose conference, our efforts now are to use the time and data we have to develop an alternative virtual conference model.

In closing, we know it may sound strange to still talk about a live, in-person conference and we all desire to provide our members with as much clarity about what to expect for our 2021 conference. But with the investments in time and resources we’ve already made for San Jose, with the uncertainty about how COVID-19 responses may change in the coming months, and knowing we still have time before opening up registration, we’re opting to keep all options open to ensure we maintain the conference experience and value you have come to expect from CSMFO.

NOTE: Our survey had 511 participants and was open from July 8, 2020 to July 21, 2020.

When I tell people this is gluten free, I often get a surprised look from those devouring this decadent and rich chocolate roll. And, because of its gluten-free approach, it comes together and out of the oven much faster than you would expect (you can totally complete in 30 to 45 minutes). And because it’s best served chilled, it’s perfect to make the day before and pull it out exactly when you need it without any day-of stress.

Ingredients
1 cup semi- or bittersweet GF chocolate chips
3 tablespoons coffee
6 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder[Kahlua Cream Cheese Filling] 1/3 cup Kahlua
3/4 cup dark chocolate chunks
12 oz of cream cheese–softened
2 tsp butter–softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Prepare by greasing a 12-in. x 17-in. x 1-in. cookie sheet, lining with parchment paper, and grease and GF flour the paper.
2. With room temperature eggs, separate egg whites and yolks, placing yolks into a large mixing bowl.
3. Over low heat melt chocolate with coffee in a small saucepan until it is 3/4 melted. Remove and stir until the chocolate is smooth.
4. Beat egg yolks with an electric mixer until pale and creamy then gradually add sugar and beat until yolks are in a ribbon stage. Then gently stir the chocolate mix into the yolk mixture.
5. Beat egg whites with salt until they hold stiff peaks. Slowly stir 1/4 of egg white mixture into the chocolate-yolk mixture to lighten it. Fold in 3 separate batches the remaining whites into the chocolate mix.
6. Pour and smooth batter into the cookie sheet pan and bake at 350 for 15 minutes, checking regularly after 10 minutes to avoid over baking (it should feel dry to the touch but very soft).
7. Cool for 10 minutes on a rack (tip- cover it with two layers of damp paper towels).
8. Gently remove towels and sift one tablespoon cocoa over the top of the cake. Cover with a light kitchen towel (to roll later).
9. Flip the cake, remove the parchment paper, and sift again with cocoa powder.
10. Using the towel underneath, gently roll the cake from end to end and let cool in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes.
11. With cream cheese at room temperature, beat on low all the filling ingredients until it holds stiff peaks.
12. Remove the roll and gently unroll it (don’t worry if it cracks a little). Spread about 1/4-inch cream filling evenly leaving the rest to spread on top before serving.
13. Roll it up and wrap in cling wrap and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy.